Yankees Hurler Mike Mussina Elected To Little League Baseball International Board Of Directors

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Nov. 9, 2001) - Little League Baseball graduate Mike Mussina, one of Major League Baseball’s most respected players, was elected today as a member of the Little League Baseball International Board of Directors, it was announced by Stephen D. Keener, president and chief executive officer of Little League.

I’m always interested in baseball, and Little League has been an important part of what I’ve been able to do,” Mr. Mussina said. “I wanted to see if I could get involved and help out the next group of future Major Leaguers. I’ve had a chance to coach a little bit, and this is a chance to work on the administrative side of it - to make some decisions that are going to help some people.”

Mr. Mussina was raised and still resides in Montoursville, Pa., four miles from Little League Baseball’s home. He played in the Montoursville Little League, and has become one of the premier pitchers in baseball.

“I enjoyed playing tremendously,” Mr. Mussina said. “It’s always something you can talk about with old friends, and even people you meet in the (baseball) business today, because a lot of them were involved in Little League Baseball. For me, it was the springboard to being involved at higher levels. It led to all the steps that came after it to give me a chance to play in the Majors.”

Mr. Mussina graduated with a degree in economics from Stanford University in 1991, finishing in just three and a half years. He has volunteered his time for various organizations, including the College Bound Foundation, the Lycoming County (Pa.) Chapter of the American Red Cross, Junior Achievement, literacy programs, and Montoursville High School. He is on the local board of directors of the Montoursville Little League, and is the first person elected to the Little League Baseball International Board of Directors who has played in the Major Leagues.

“Besides being a great pitcher who has enjoyed success at every level of baseball, Mike Mussina is a good person and a local Little League volunteer leader,” Mr. Keener said. “Little League has always maintained a number of residents of the greater Williamsport area on its board of directors. We’re delighted that Mike has joined the Little League movement at the international level, and we look forward to the insights he can provide.”

Mr. Mussina finished the 2001 season, his first with the American League champion New York Yankees, with a 17-11 record, a 3.15 earned run average, and his fifth Gold Glove Award in the last six years. He is 164-92 lifetime, with an ERA of 3.49 and 1,749 strikeouts in 11 seasons.

The Little League Baseball International Board of Directors, a volunteer board, is responsible for the management of the property and affairs of Little League. Little League Baseball, founded in 1939 in Williamsport, is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with nearly 3 million participants in all 50 U.S. states and 103 other countries.